Lamp shade



y 1965 R. N. BASHAW ETAL 3,194,959

LAMP SHADE Filed Oct. 24, 1962 INVENTORS' ROBERT M BASH/3W 8 BILL) G. HARPER United States Patent 3,194,959 LAMP SHADE Robert Niles Bashaw, Freeport, and Billy Gene Harper, Lake Jackson, Tex., assignors to The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 24, 1962, Ser. No. 232,802 2 Claims. (Cl. 249-108) This invention relates to a new and novel lamp shade, or the like, and the method of manufacture.

The method of the invention provides various advantages over conventional methods of making lamp shades, for example: the ease and simplicity of fitting the shade portion to the frame; no need for pre-cutting or forming panels, or for making a seam in the surface of the shade covering; the possibility of producing lamp shades having unique and unusual shapes; low cost factor.

Briefly, the inventive concept involves placing a tube, or sleeve of shrinkable polymer film over a metal framework, and heat shrinking the tube on the framework. Decorative objects other than lamp shades may be fashioned by application of the principles of the invention.

The main object of this invention is to provide a new and novel lamp shade, and a method of manufacturing such an item.

A more specific object is to provide a lamp shade wherein the shade portion may be easily and simply fit to the frame.

Another object is to provide a lamp shade wherein there is no need for pre-cutting or forming panels, or for making a seam in the surface of the shade covering.

Still another object is to provide a method for producing lamp shades, and other items, having unique and unusual shapes.

A further object is to provide a lamp shade of low cost manufacture.

These and further objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective-like view of a lamp shade, embodying the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a View similar to FIG. 1, but showing various parts in pre-assembled position;

FIG. 3 is a section view generally as seen along line 3--3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exterior view of a modified form of lamp shade made in accordance with the principles of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is an end view of the same.

Referring now to the drawing, numeral identifies a lamp assembly which includes a shade 12, formed in ac cordance with the principles of the invention, and a fluorescent tube 14 supported axially within the shade.

The shade 12 includes a framework 16 made of metal rod, or wire, which are welded, or soldered in desired shape, and a cover 18, which is formed of a tube, or sleeve of shrinkable polymer film. The cover 18, which is shrunk over the frame by application of heat, is formed of material having good shrink tension and no tendency to relax after being shrunk on the frame. Materials use- 3,194,959 Patented July 13, 1965 ful for such purpose are oriented polymers such as polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride and copolymers of ethylene-ethyl acrylate, ethylene-vinyl acetate, styrene-acrylonitrile and vinyl chloride-vinylidine chloride. The material may be either transparent or translucent.

The framework 16 may have various shapes, and be of different length, the one shown in FIG. 1 having a pair of vertically extending rods 29 to which are secured rings 22 in spaced relation, as well as a plurality of rings 24 having radially arranged rods 26. It will be noted that the various elements of the framework are generally symmetrically disposed about the axis of the framework. This is desirable, if a good shrink fit of the cover 18 is to be obtained. Means (not shown) are provided at each end of the shade whereby the fluorescent tube may be affixed thereto. The shade 12, is suitable for use preferably in a vertical position, wherein a relatively high intensity light source is desired, as in the corner of a room.

A modified type of lamp shade, 28 is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, said lamp shade being of the so-called Japanese lantern type. A framework 30, having curved rods 32 extending between rings 34 is provided for reception of a cover 36 made of heat shrinkable plastic film, as in the case of cover 18. The lamp shade 28 is arranged for hanging on a low wattage filament bulb (not shown).

From the foregoing, it will be seen that either of the two embodiments disclosed will satisfy the objectives of the invention as set forth hereinbefore. Y The foregoing description has been given in detail without thought of limitation since the inventive principles involved are capable of assuming other forms Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is: v

1. A shade for a lamp comprising a shade framework having spaced ring members and a plurality of support members extending therebetween, means on said framework for attaching the framework to said lamp, and a tight-fitting seamless cover substantially the same diameter as the outside diameter of said framework shrunk onto said framework and fixedly attached thereto, said cover comprising a seamless tube of shrunken polymer film.

2. The shade of claim 1 wherein said polymer film comprises a member of the group consisting of copolymers of ethyl acrylate, acrylonitrile, vinyl chloride, and polyvinyl chloride.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,026,939 1/ 36 Greenan. 2,049,251 7/3 6 Deitsch. 2,356,948 8/44 Reed. 2,817,399 12/57 Donaldson et al.

FOREIGN PATENTS 220,914 4/ 59 Australia.

NORTON ANSI-1BR, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SHADE FOR A LAMP COMPRISING A SHADE FRAMEWORK HAVING SPACED RING MEMBERS AND A PLURALITY OF SUPPORT MEMBERS EXTENDING THEREBETWEEN, MEANS ON SAID FRAMEWORK FOR ATTACHING THE FRAMEWORK TO SAID LAMP, AND A TIGHT-FITTING SEAMLESS COVER SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME DIAMETER AS THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER OF SAID FRAMEWORK SHRUNK ONTO SAID FRAMEWORK AND FIXEDLY ATTACHED THERETO, SAID COVER COMPRISING A SEAMLESS TUBE OF SHRUNKEN POLYMER FILM. 